Counting device



4 I. n 0 m ir ,..1 m s a 0 2. m m r 3 5 E. EK ET AL COUNTING DEVICE Filed.Jan. -14, 19:50

"Feb. 11, 1936.

Feb. 11, 1936.

E. EK r-:r AL

commune DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 77067 to); ii maz z rmw E171 Patented Feb. 11, [936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,030,624 COUNTING DEVICE Emil air and Arthur E. Ek, Portland, Maine Application January 14,1930, Serial No. 420,744

9 Claims. (01. 235-132) This invention relates to improvements in counting devices. More especially it relates to a counting device which is capable of counting between one predetermined'number and another,

reversing itself as each predetermined number isreached and then counting back again to the other predetermined number.

It is frequently desired to indicate when a predetermined number of operations has been completed or to indicate when a predetermined number of units of material has been produced or withdrawn. For example, in the case of machines, handling wire, cloth, paper and'the like, it may be desirable to know when a certain num- 1 ber of unit lengths has been run off. In other cases, such as where a machine is performing repeated operations and producing individual products, it may be desirable to know when a certain number of such products, such as a gross,

has been completed.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a counting device which can be set to count a definite number of operations or unit lengths and then reverse its direction and make the same count back again. At the end of each such count a signal may be given and, if but one count is desired, thedevice may be utilized to actuate control means for stopping the operation, production or travel of whatever is being counted at the end of the single count. In the preferred form of the device one predetermined number is zero and it is a feature that such device can be set initially at any other predetermined number and then count back to zero. This is of particular'advantage where only one count is. desired because it greatly simplifies the setting of the device and where the count is. to be invention will be pointed out in the detailed. description which follows, and other features of the invention will be noted as the description develops.

' .It'ls intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims, what- 50 ever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of a counting device, with the cover casingiremoved, embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation in section, as one line 2-4 of Figure 1, showing details of the operating connection between the main shaft and registering'unit of the counting device;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section 5 as on line 3-3 of Figure 1; but with the parts in positions corresponding't'o a zero reading of the tally wheels;

Figure 4 is a similar elevation, taken as on line H of Figure 1, but with the units tally 10 wheel and associated parts shifted to the one reading;

Figure 5 is a perspective of the tumbler disks of the control unit;

Figure 6 is another elevation in section as on 15 line 6-8 of Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a similar elevation, taken as on line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings the main shaft II is journaled in bearings suitably provided in the 20 upstanding casing walls I! of the base ll. This shaft is shown as having a crank l8, but the latter is merely representative for it might be a wheel adapted to contact with moving material such as lumber, cloth, paper, wire, etc., whose 25 linear length is to be registered by the meter. The shaftflll may be rotated in either direction or merely oscillated through a part rotation by other apparatus, (not shown) whose cycles of movements or oscillations are to.be registered or 0 controlled. On this shaft within the casing is secured another crank ll, here shown in the form of a hub Ila fastened by pin llb to the main shaft and having an offset portion llc carrying a roller lad whose axis is parallel'to that of the 35 shaft III. This roller I'd engages the edge of a suitably shaped hole 20a in the middle of a main motion plate 20. The latter also has two elongated slots 20b, in alignment but on opposite sides of the roller hole 204:, which slidably lit 40 about two bearing shafts II and 26 that are secured to the casing and extend across it parallel to the main shaft Ill. These bearingshafts and the elongated slots of the motion plate cooperate to guide the motion plate in a straight line direction as it is moved one way and then the other by the roller lld, the rotative motion of the roller about the main shaft Ill being transformed into reciprocating motion of the plate 20.

Two pawls 28 and 2a are pivotally mounted pawls are connected by a light coiled spring 32 which lies in a groove 28d provi'ded'in the curved end of the motion plate. The pull of this spring tends to swing both pawls into contact with the ratchet wheel 38 but while one is permitted to engage it and thus cause its rotation in one direction, the other pawl is held out of engagement therewith. This is accomplished by means of two bars 34, 38, carried by a pair of links 38, 48, pivotally mounted at 39 and 4| respectively on the motion plate. 'Pins 42 and 44 which connect the right hand ends of these bars with their connecting link 38 extend under the pawls 28 and 29. When the upper bar 34 is in the position in which it extends farthest to the left, as shown inFig- 5 ure 3, the pin 42 is so positioned with respect to the cam edge 28a of pawl 28, that the latter is swung toward the ratchet wheel 38 by spring 32 and will rotate the ratchet wheel as the plate is moved to the right on its driving stroke. At

20 the same time, the other cam pin 44 will be so positioned with respect to the cam edge 29a of the other pawl 29 that the latter will be swung out of the path of engagement with the ratchet wheel 38. Upon a shifting of the bars 34 and I 5 38, the upper bar moving to the right and the lower bar to the left, the relative positions of the pins and cam edges of the pawls are reversed,

thereby swinging the upper pawl 28 out of contact with the ratchet wheel and the lower pawl 30 29 into engagement with it. As the pawls move toward the right, the spring 32 will cause the pawl which is free to do so, (pawl 28 in Figure 3) to enter a notch of the ratchet wheel 38 and engage one of the teeth. Upon the return stroke 5 of the pawl, that is to the left as seen in Figure 3, the curved'side 28b of the pawl rides up on the tooth in its path, the pawl overcoming the force of spring 32 and swinging about its pivot 280. Thus the direction 'of rotation of the ratchet wheel is governed by-the respective positions of.

the bars 34 and 38 and their positions, as will hereinafter more particularly appear, are altered by the control unit of the device.

The ratchet wheel 38, a gear wheel 48 and the 45 unit tally wheel'48 are secured together and all turn one-tenthof a rotation during a driving stroke of the motion plate 28. This rotative movement of the gear wheel 48 is transmitted to a back or intermediate gear wheel 58 which 50 can turn freely on the main shaft l8. (See Fig. 4.) This intermediate gear meshes with both the unit gear wheel 48 and a third gear wheel 52 rotatable on bearing shaft 28. This latter gear is pinned to apam disk 54 having a notch 54a 55 (one edge of which is inclined to form a cam) adapted to receive the roller 58a on the end of a cam lever 58 pivotally supported on a bearing shaft 58. On this latter shaft is another cam lever 88 having a roller 88a adapted to engage a 0 notch 82:; in another cam disk 82 rotatable on I [bearing shaft 28. This cam disk 82 is normally immediately adjacent to its companion disk 54 and turns"therewi th, there being a pin 82b (see Figure 6) on the disk 82 which projects into one 55 of a series of ten holes 54b provided in cam disk 54. These holes correspond to the ten units .of the unit tally wheel 48'.

The operation of the cam disks and cam levers associated with the unit tally wheel will now be described. Assume the tally wheel is set at 0,

and it is desired to count or register up to 9 in one direction ofrotation and then reverse and count down to 0 again. when the unit tally wheel 48 is at 0 position thenotch 54a in cam disk 54 will always be opposite roller 56c and accordingly the lever 58 will be swung counterclockwise, withdts'roller resting in the notch as seen in Figure3. When so swung, a rod 84 carried by lever 58 will have moved into the path of bar 38 so that upon the next return movement of the motion plate the bars 34 and 38 and links 38 and 48 will be shifted into the positions shown in Figure 3, thereby causing the pin 44 to swing pawl 29 out of engagement with ratchet wheel 38, and, by simultaneous movement of bar 34 and pin 42, permitting pawl 28 to swing into engagement with the ratchet wheel. Accordingly the next rotation, or oscillation of the main shaft through a part rotation, will cause the motion plate to move on its driving stroke, carrying with it the pawls, and thus rotate the ratchet wheel and advance the unit tally wheel reading one unit for each driving stroke of the motion plate. At the same time, of course, intermediate gear wheel 58 and gear wheel 52 will also be rotated one-tenth of a complete turn, and since the cam disk 54 is attached to gear wheel 52, the disk will also be similarly rotated. In consequence the cam side of the notch 54a will force the roller 58a out of notch 54a, leaving it to ride on the edge of the disk 54 until the notch again comes in register with it. The swing of lever 58, as its roller is forcedout of notch 540, has no effect on the pawls because the bar. 84 is merely drawn away from the end of the bar 38 leaving the latter undisturbed. It follows then that continued movement of the main shaft l8 will cause the ratchet wheel 38, unit tally wheel 48, the gears 48, 58 and 52, and the cam disk 54, all to ad- .54, so that as the latter reaches its position, corresponding to the position of the unit tally wheel at 9, the notch 82a of disk 82 will then be inregister with the roller one. This setting of cam disk 52 is accomplished as follows. The tally wheel is first turned to read 9. Beside disk 82 is a spacing hook 88, which is pivoted on main shaft l8 (see Figure 4) and hooks over bearing shaft 28. By raising this hook and swinging it clear of, disk 82, the latter canf'thenbe slipped along bearing shaft 28, thus withdrawing its pin 82b from engagement with disk 54. While thus disengaged, disk 82 is then rotated about shaft 28 until its notch 62a is in register with the roller 58a of lever 88. when so set, the disk is slipped back against its companion disk 54 and the spacing hook 58 returned to its engagement with shaft 28. The tally wheel is returned to. zero, during which movement the roller 880. will have moved ,the next driving stroke of the motion plate the -pawl 29 will actuate ratchet wheel 38 to move the tally wheel from 9w 8. Andso on, untilthe' unit is again reached. Thereupon, the resulting drop of roller 560 into the notch 54a of cam disk 54 will effect another shifting of the pawls and the count will begin again and go up to 9. Thus it is clear that by setting cam .disk 32 with respect to roller 60a, the device can be used to count up to any number from 1 to 9 and then reverse and count down again The description just given with respect to the unit tally wheel is applicable to the tens tally wheel 69 and the hundreds tally wheel I0, and their associated gears and cam disks. The units tally wheel has a single toothed gear I2 on its side opposite to the ten-toothed gear 46. This meshes with an intermediate gear 14 on the main shaft I0, which in turn meshes both with the ten-tooth gear I6 on the tenstally wheel 69 and-with a gear I0 on another cam disk 30 on shaft 26. This cam disk has a companion disk 82, similar in every way to cam disk 62. In like manner gear connections are provided between the tens tally wheel and the hundreds tally wheel I0. This also has its associated cam disks 84 and 96.

0n shaft 59 are also pivoted levers 0B and 90 (see Figure 7) which co-operate with cam disks 30 and 84, and levers 92 and 94 which co-operate with cam disks 82 and 86 respectively. Bar 64 extends through the three levers 56. 09 and 90 and bar 66 likewise extends through levers 60, 92 and 94. The latter levers are also rigidly secured together by the bolt 98 and the former levers by bolt- 96. Attached to these bolts is a coiled spring I00, which passes around the bearing shaft 26, holding the rollers of the levers against the edges of their respective cam disks and tending always to force them into the notches of these disks. Thesenotches in cam disks 00, 82, 94 and 33 are shown as radial notches having straight sides. Whenever any roller is bottomed in these notches the companion roller (50a or 80a) of the units wheel assembly will be in the corresponding notch (54a or 620.) of the cam disks 54 or 62. Since the latter notches 54a and 62a have diverging sides which act as cam faces to lift their respective levers 56, 00, and since these levers are connected to levers 00, 90 and 92, 94 by the bars 94 and 66 respectively, the notches in the cam disks 90, 92, and 86 need not have tapered sides but may be made with radial sides as shown.

To set the counting device for any desired number, turn the tally wheels until they display this number, and then set the three disks 02, 32 and 36 with their notches in alignment and under the three rollers of levers 60, 92 and 94. The device can then be operated from .this number back to zero, or can be set at zero and run up to the desired number.

In either case when the predetermined number of counts has been completed, the device will have reached a,zero reading, or the reading of the desired number and then, if nothing more is done, will reverse itself and start the count over again.

There is disclosed herein means whereby the counter may be used, if desired. as a stopping device, but this adaptation is optional and when so adapted the device ceases to function as an, These -per edge of slot H14!) in the lever arm I04.

the machine whose movements are being counted.

For purposes of illustration the switch I02 by a lever arm I04 of yoke shape which is piv oted atIilB and I08 to the casing, there being a trunnion I I0 extending outside the casing, carrying a handle I I2. A rod I I4 is pivotally connected at one end to the lever I04 at I04a and at its other end slides loosely in a hole through the boss IIS. Intermediate the boss and a pin IIB projecting through the rod is a coiled spring I I9 tending constantly to swing the lever and switch arm to off position. I

In the path of movement of lever I04 is a latch I 20 which can be temporarily depressedby lever I04, and which then swings upward to engage the loweredge of a slot I042) in .the lever I 94. This latch I20 is pivoted on a stud I22 that is attached to another latch lever I24 pivotally mounted on bearing shaft 58. This latter lever is constantly I20 is likewise normally. held in the position seen i in Figure 3 by another spring I28 which extends from a pin I30 on lever I24 around stud I22 to another pin I32 on the latch I20. This latter pin also rests'against latch lever I24, this engagement limiting the upper swing of the latch I20 under' the force of spring I28.

Assume the counting device to be set at' zero with the switch I02 at off position as seen in Figure 3. The rollers on levers 58, 80 and 90 will then be resting in the notches of cam disks 54, 80

and 34. Handle I I2 is then turned to close switch I02 and thereby the circuit, represented by cable I33, which controls the operation'of the machine or apparatus whose operations are to be counted by the device. As previously explained, latch I20 the stud I22. As the levers 56, 94 and 92'swing downward, the bar 64 swings lever I34 also downward and as the link I38 and its slot I39a also move downward, spring I26 acting on latch lever I24 causesitjto swing counterclockwise and bring its hook end I24a into engagement with the up- Of course, the movement of lever I24 toward the slot I04b also swings latch I20 downward out of the slot (because of the engagement between lever I24 and pin I32) but the holding surface of the 1 latch I20 is long enough to maintain contact with the edge of slot I04b until after the latter has become engaged bythe hook end I24a. Accordingly the switch will be held in closed position until the device reaches a predetermined number.

When this occurs, the fibtches-in cam disks" 62, 82

swing downward and cause the spacing sleeve I 39.

on bolt 99 between levers 92 and 94, to strike the dog and I24b of latch lever I24 and release the latter from switch lever I04. Spring II9 will then throw the latter lever and switch to the oil position.

Upon again moving handle I I2, lever I04 will be first engaged by the latch I2llas before and then as the disks revolve and levers 60, 92 and ill are raised, latch lever I24 will be swung by spring I26 as before described. During this run of the meter, it is approaching the zero reading and when this is reached the lower group of levers will swing counterclockwise. This movement also lifts lever I34 and, acting through the link I38 and stud I22, again causes release of latch lever I24 with consequent opening of the switch and stoppage of operations. As previously stated, the employment of switch I02 is entirely optional and is to be used only when the device is to operate through a predetermined count. When the device is employed to register repeated counts, the

switch I02 and its connections exercise no control on the operations being counted.

If it be desired to announce the completion of a prescribed count, a pair of switch contacts HID-I400. can be set so as to be brought into contact by an extension I26a of spring I26 when the lever I 24 is released. The closing of such contacts will complete a circuit controlling a suitable signal. It is obvious'that the circuit controlled by these contact points might govern a relay which in turn may set in operation various agencies adapted to do several things, such as to make a record of the count, give a signal, etc. etc. It is also within the scope of the inventionto utilize the physical movement of the disk levers to operate a purely mechanical signal, if desired.

I claim: 1

l. A counting device having, in combination, a, main shaft adapted to be moved in accordance with the measurement being taken; a series of interconnected tally wheels rotatable in both directions; a single ratchet wheel connected to said series of tally wheels for actuating them; means connecting said main shaft with the ratchet wheel arranged to effect rotation of the latter in either direction in accordance with the movement of the former; and control means actuated by the rotation of said tally wheels and adapted upon the completion of a predetermined tally to shift the said connecting means whereby the direction of rotation of ratchet wheel and said tally wheels is changed without change of movement of the main shaft.

2. A counting device having, in combination, a shaft adapted to be moved repeatedly through the same cycle of movements; a series of tally interconnected wheels rotatable in both directions for indicating the tally of said cycles completed; a single ratchet wheel connected to said tally wheels and adaptedwhen rotated to effect rotation of the tally wheels; means connecting said shaft and said ratchet wheel comprising pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted when set in one position to transmit the movement of said shaft to cause rotation of the tally wheels in one direction and when set in another position to transmit the movement of said shaft to cause rotation of the tally wheels in the reverse direction;- and means actuated by the movement of said tally wheels controlling the position of said pawl and ratchet mechanism and capable, upon-the tally wheels reaching a predetermined tally, of altering the position of said mechanism and thereby effecting a change in direction of rotation of said tally wheels.

3. A counting device having, in combination, a shaft adapted to be moved repeatedly through the same cycle of movements; a tally wheel indicating the tally of said completed cycles; means connecting said shaft and said tally wheel comprising a ratchet wheel and a pair of pawls arranged to engage therewith separately and thereby eifect rotation of the tally wheel in different directions; and control means actuated by the rotation of the tally wheel comprising one member adapted to shift its position upon the completion of a predetermined tally in one direction of rotation of said tally wheel and another member similarly shiftable upon the completion of apredetermined tally in the reverse direction of rotation of said tally wheel; and,means arranged to engage said members when so shifted and thereby effect withdrawal of one pawl from engagement with the ratchet wheel and simultaneously effect engagement of the other pawl therewith, thereby causing the tally wheel to count from one predetermined tally to the other predetermined tally and then back again successively.

. 4. A counting device having, in combination,

ratchet while the other is engaged therewith; and I control means operatively connected with the tally wheel comprisingmembers adapted upon the completion of a predetermined tally to move into the path of saidmeans controlling the respective positions of the pawls, whereby upon engagement of said members and the last said means, the positions of the pawls are altered and the tally wheel is actuated in direction opposite to that in which it rotated prior to said engagement of the members and the pawl control means.

5. A counting device in combination, a shaft adapted to be moved repeatedly through the same cycle of movements; a tally wheel for indicating the tally of said cycles completed; means connecting the two capable of effecting. rotation of the tally wheel in either-direction in accordance with the cyclic movements of said shaft; and means controlling said connecting means comprising a cam disk, a lever arranged to engage said disk and move in accordance with the cam edge thereof; there being an operative connection between the said lever and the said connecting means whereby upon movement of the lever the said connecting means are shifted to effect change of direction of rotation of the tally wheel.

6. A counting device having, in combination, a shaft adapted to be moved repeatedly through the same cycle of movements; a tally wheel for indicating the tally of said cycles completed; means connecting the two capable of effecting rotation of the tally wheel in either direction in accordance-with the cyclic movements of said shaft; and means controlling said connecting means comprising a pair of disks having cam edges with a notch therein; a pair of levers, each adapted to engage one of said disks and to move in accordance with its cam edge; an operative connection between said shaft and said disks whereby the rotation of the latter is in predetermined relation with the rotation of the tally wheel; and means actuated by the movement of either lever upon engaging its respective notch of the disk to alter the connection means between said shaft and said tally wheel whereby the direction of rotation of the latter is changed.

7. A counting device having, in combination, a shaft adapted to be moved repeatedly through the same cycle of movements; a series of interconnected tally wheels for indicating the tally of said cycles completed; means for transmitting the movement of said shaft to said tally wheels and adapted to effect rotation of the latter in either direction in accordance with the cyclic movements of said shaft; a series of cam disks rotatable in synchronism with said tally wheels, there being a pair of said disks associated with each tally wheel; a notch in each disk so disposed that when the tally wheels all indicate a predetermined number, the notches of one of the disks in each pair are in the same angular relation; the other disks of the said pairs being adjustable whereby their respective notches can be set in the same angular relation to correspond with any other predetermined tally; and means engaging said cam disks and moving in accordance with the notches thereof, capable of controlling the transmitting means between the shaft and the tally wheels whereby, upon the said wheels reaching either predetermined tally, the rotation thereof will be reversed.

8. A counting device for counting between two predetermined numbers, comprising in combina-- tion, an operating shaft movable in accordance with the unit being counted; indicating means comprising a series of interconnected tally wheels rotatable in both directions means transmitting the movements of said shaft to said indicating means; and control means actuated by said indicating means and adapted to respond when one of said predetermined numbers is reached and thereby alter said transmitting means so as to cause the indicating means to operate in the jopposite direction toward the other predetermined number.

9. A counting device for making a predetermined count in opposite directions; comprising, in combination, an operating shaft; means for indicating the units of each count comprising a series of interconnected tally wheels; means connecting said shaft and said indicating means and adapted to actuate the indicating means in either direction; and means for controlling the count having operative connection with the indicating means and being responsive thereto 50 that upon the completion of a predetermined count in one direction the said control means alter the relation of the said connecting means, thereby caus-' ing the latter to actuate the indicating means in the reverse direction.

EMIL EK. ARTHUR E. EK. 

